Rotation detection device

ABSTRACT

An electric power steering apparatus has a rotation detection device for calculating an absolute angle that includes a sensor section that detects a rotation of a motor and outputs a mechanical angle and a count value. The rotation detection device also includes a signal acquisition unit that obtains the mechanical angle and the count value from the sensor section, and an absolute angle calculator that calculates an absolute angle based on the mechanical angle and the count value. Where one rotation of the motor is divided into indefinite regions and definite regions, the absolute angle calculator uses the count value from the definite regions to calculate the absolute angle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of priorityof Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-103869, filed on May 30, 2018,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a rotation detection device and anelectric power steering apparatus using the rotation detection device.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A rotation angle detection device may detect a rotation position of amotor. More specifically, the rotation angle detection device may detectinformation that varies with the rotation of the motor.

Abnormalities and errors may occur during rotation calculations by therotation angle detection device. As such, rotation angle detectiondevices are subject to improvement.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes a rotation detection device and anelectric power steering apparatus using the rotation detection device.The rotation detection device of the present disclosure is configured torecover from an abnormality affecting the rotation detection device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description made withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic configuration of a steering systemaccording to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a drive device in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the drive device takenalong a line III-Ill in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic control unit (ECU)in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a control section in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates regions in one rotation of a motor in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates a circuit diagram showing a rotation count unit inthe first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing a sensor signal, an absolute angle, adetermination region, a comparison signal, and a count value in thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the sensor signal, the comparison signal,and the count value in the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a time chart showing an electrical angle and the absoluteangle in the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 illustrates definite regions and indefinite regions in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an absolute angle calculation process inthe first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an absolute angle calculation process ina second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an absolute angle calculation process ina third embodiment;

FIG. 15 illustrates definite regions and indefinite regions in a fourthembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a time chart showing a sensor signal, an absolute angle, adetermination region, a comparison signal, and a count value in thefourth embodiment;

FIG. 17 illustrates definite regions and indefinite regions in thefourth embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an absolute angle calculation process inthe fourth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an absolute angle calculation process ina fifth embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an absolute angle calculation process ina sixth embodiment;

FIG. 21 illustrates a block diagram of a control section in a seventhembodiment;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an absolute angle calculation process inthe seventh embodiment;

FIG. 23A illustrates a relationship between a count value and a numberof rotations in the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 23B illustrates another relationship between the count value andthe number of rotations in the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 23C illustrates yet another relationship between the count valueand the number of rotations in the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an absolute angle calculation process inan eighth embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an absolute angle calculation process ina ninth embodiment;

FIG. 26 illustrates an initial position difference among differentsystems in a tenth embodiment; and

FIG. 27 illustrates a block diagram of a control section in the tenthembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The rotation angle detection device may detect information that varieswith the rotation of a motor.

When calculating a value related to the number of rotations of a motor,the rotation angle detection device may count the rotation count up anddown by comparing the rotation of the motor against a threshold value.The rotation count may be prone to errors and deviations, especially ifthere are errors and deviations in the threshold value. As such, inrelated technology rotation angle detection devices, the calculatednumber of rotations (i.e., the value related to the number of rotations)may be not usable in other calculations, because the calculated numberof rotations may have errors. The rotation detection device of thepresent disclosure overcomes the calculation problems of the relatedtechnology.

First Embodiment

A rotation detection device and an electric power steering apparatususing such a rotation detection device are described below withreference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, like featuresand elements among the embodiments may be referred to by the samereference numerals, and a repeat description of previously describedlike features and elements may be omitted from the descriptions of thelatter embodiments.

With reference to FIG. 1, an electronic control unit (ECU) 10 isconfigured as a rotation detection device in the first embodiment. TheECU 10 is included with a motor 80 as part of an electric power steeringapparatus 8 for assisting with a steering operation of a vehicle. Themotor 80 may also be referred to as a rotating electric machine. FIG. 1shows an overall configuration of a steering system 90 including theelectric power steering apparatus 8. The steering system 90 includes asteering wheel 91, a steering shaft 92, a pinion gear 96, a rack shaft97, road wheels 98, and the electric power steering apparatus 8.

The steering wheel 91 is disposed at one end of the steering shaft 92and connected to the steering shaft 92. A torque sensor 94 is includedon the steering shaft 92 to detect a steering torque Ts. The torquesensor 94 includes a first torque detector 194 and a second torquedetector 294. The pinion gear 96 is disposed at the other end of thesteering shaft 92. The pinion gear 96 engages with the rack shaft 97.Road wheels 98 are coupled at both ends of the rack shaft 97 via amechanical linkage such as tie rods.

When a driver of the vehicle rotates the steering wheel 91, the steeringshaft 92 connected to the steering wheel 91 rotates. The pinion gear 96converts the rotational motion of the steering shaft 92 into a linearmotion for linearly moving the rack shaft 97. The road wheels 98 aresteered to an angle corresponding to the displacement amount of the rackshaft 97.

The electric power steering apparatus 8 includes a drive device 40,which includes the motor 80, the ECU 10, and a speed-reduction gear 89.The speed-reduction gear 89 is a power transmission mechanism thatreduces the rotation speed of the motor 80 and transmits the rotation tothe steering shaft 92. The electric power steering apparatus 8 of thepresent embodiment is a column assist-type power steering apparatus.However, the electric power steering apparatus 8 is not limited to beinga column assist-type electric power steering apparatus 8, and theelectric power steering apparatus 8 may alternatively be a rackassist-type electric power steering apparatus 8 that transmits therotation of the motor 80 to the rack shaft 97.

The motor 80 outputs an assist torque to assist with a steeringoperation. In other words, the motor 80 may either provide a whole orpartial assist to assist a vehicle user in turning the steering shaft 92to steer the road wheels 98.

The motor 80 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The motor 80is driven by electric power supplied from batteries 191 and 291 shown inFIG. 4 as a direct current power supply. Driving the motor 80 in forwardand reverse directions causes the speed-reduction gear 89 shown in FIG.1 to respectively rotate in forward and reverse directions. The motor 80is a three-phase brushless motor and has a rotor 860 and a stator 840,as shown in FIG. 2.

The motor 80 has a first motor winding 180 as a first winding set, and asecond motor winding 280 as a second winding set. The motor windings 180and 280 have the same electrical characteristics. For example, the motorwindings 180 and 280 are commonly wound on the stator 840 so that thephases of the winding 180 are shifted by an electrical angle of 30degrees from the corresponding phases of the winding 280. As such, thephase currents (e.g., U phase, V phase, and W phase) are controlled tobe supplied to the motor windings 180 and 280 such that thecorresponding phase currents of the motor windings 180 and 280 have aphase difference φ of 30 degrees. By optimizing the current supply phasedifference, the output torque is improved and the sixth-order torqueripple harmonic can be reduced. Supplying the current with a 30 degreephase difference φ among the corresponding phases of the motor windings180 and 280 also averages the current, thereby advantageously maximizingthe cancellation of noise and vibration. Since heat generation is alsoaveraged, it is also possible to reduce errors in the torque valuedetection by the torque sensors 194 and 294, as the detected torquevalues may vary with temperature.

With reference to FIG. 4, the combination of a first driver circuit 120,a first sensor section 130, and a first control section 170, among otherelements, may be referred to as a first system L1. The first system L1is used to control the drive of the first motor winding 180 (e.g., bycontrolling the power supplied to the first motor winding 180). Thecombination of a second driver circuit 220, a second sensor section 230,and a second control section 270, among other elements, may be referredto as a second system L2. The second system L2 is used to control thedrive of the second motor winding 280. Elements, components, andfeatures included in the first system L1 may be indicated by referencenumerals with a base of 100 (e.g, 120, 170), and the elements,components, and features included in the second system L2 may beindicated by reference numerals with a base of 200. Like elements andfeatures between the first system L1 and second system L2 may beindicated by the least two significant digits. For example, the firstcontrol section 170 may be similar to the second control section 270(e.g., the control sections 170 and 270 are like components), where thereference characters for each of the control sections 170 and 270include “70” as their least significant digits, the prefix “1” (i.e.,the most significant digit) for the first control section 170 indicatesthat the first control section 170 is included in the first system L1,and the prefix “2” indicates that the second control section 270 isincluded in the second system L2. The description of the first controlsection 170 and the second control section 270 may be similar, and insuch case, a redundant description of like elements, components, andfeatures may be omitted.

The drive device 40 may integrate the ECU 10 and the motor 80 togetherwithin a single package. As such, the drive device 40 may be referred toas a machine-electronics integrated-type drive device 40. As shown inFIG. 2, the ECU 10 may be disposed coaxially with the motor 80 at oneend of the motor 80 along the longitudinal axis Ax (i.e., on an axialend of the motor 80). Alternatively, the motor 80 and the ECU 10 may beprovided separately. The ECU 10 is positioned on the side opposite tothe output of a shaft 870. Alternatively, the ECU 10 may be disposed onthe output shaft side of the motor 80. By adopting themachine-electronics integrated-type configuration, the drive device 40including the ECU 10 and the motor 80 may be installed in morerestricted spaces (e.g., smaller, narrower spaces) in the vehicle.

The motor 80 includes the stator 840, the rotor 860, and a housing 830that houses the stator 840 and the rotor 860 on the inside of thehousing 830. The stator 840 is fixed to the housing 830, and the motorwindings 180 and 280 are wound on the stator 840. The rotor 860 isdisposed inside the stator 840. In other words, the stator 840 maysurround the rotor 860. The rotor 860 can rotate relative to the stator840.

The shaft 870 is fitted in the rotor 860 to rotate integrally with therotor 860. The shaft 870 is rotatably supported by the housing 830 bybearings 835 and 836. The end portion of the shaft 870 on the ECU 10side protrudes from the housing 830 toward the ECU 10. A magnet 875 isincluded at the axial end of the shaft 870 on the ECU 10 side

The housing 830 includes a cylindrical-shaped case 834 with a rear frameend 837 that relatively closes the side of the case 834 near the ECU 10.A front frame end 838 is included and attached on the open side of thecase 834 to relatively close the side of the case 834 near the output ofthe shaft 870. The case 834 and the front frame end 838 are fastened toeach other by bolts or like fasteners (not shown). Lead wire insertionholes 839 are formed in the rear frame end 837. Lead wires 185 and 285connected to each phase of the motor windings 180 and 280 are insertedthrough the lead wire insertion holes 839. The lead wires 185 and 285pass through the lead wire insertion holes 839 toward the ECU 10 andconnect to a circuit board 470.

The ECU 10 includes a cover 460, a heat sink 465, the circuit board 470,and other electronic components mounted on the circuit board 470. Theheat sink 465 may be fixed to the cover 460, and the circuit board 470may be fixed to the heat sink 465.

The cover 460 protects the electronic components of the ECU 10 fromexternal impacts and prevents the ingress of dust and water into theinside of the ECU 10. The cover 460 includes an integrally formed covermain body 461 and a connector member 462. The connector member 462 andthe cover main body 461 need not be integrally formed and may bealternatively included as two separate structural members 461 and 462.The terminals 463 of the connector member 462 are connected to thecircuit board 470 via wiring or like electrical conductors (not shown).The number of connector members 462 and the number of terminals maycorrespond to the number of electrical inputs and outputs (e.g., power,signals) to and from the ECU 10, as well as being based on other designfactors. The connector member 462 is disposed at one axial end of thedrive device 40 on the side opposite the motor 80. The connector member462 extends axially away from the drive device 40 in the direction ofthe axis Ax and is open to allow for an external connector (not shown)to connect to the connector member 462.

The circuit board 470 is, for example, a printed circuit board, and ispositioned with one side facing the rear frame end 837 toward the motor80, and another side facing away from the motor 80 toward the cover 460.The electronic components of the first and second systems L1 and L2shown in FIG. 4 are mounted independently on the circuit board 470 sothat the two systems are provided in a fully redundant configuration. Inthe present embodiment, the electronic components of the first andsecond systems L1 and L2 are mounted on one circuit board 470, but theelectronic components of the first and second systems L1 and L2 may bealternatively mounted on separate circuit boards. Not all of theelectronic components from the first and second systems L1 and L2 may bemounted on the circuit board, and FIGS. 2 and 3 may not illustrate allof the electronic components shown in FIG. 4 as being on the circuitboard 470. The electronic components from the first and second systemsL1 and L2 on the circuit board 470 are described below in greaterdetail.

Of the two principal surfaces of the circuit board 470, the surface onthe side of the motor 80 is referred to as a motor side surface 471 andthe other surface facing the cover 460 is referred to as a cover sidesurface 472. As shown in FIG. 3, switching elements 121, switchingelements 221, a rotation angle sensor 30, and custom integrated circuits(ICs) 159 and 259 are mounted on the motor side surface 471. Therotation angle sensor 30 is mounted at a position facing the magnet 875so as to be able to detect a change in the magnetic field caused byrotation of the magnet 875. The rotation angle sensor 30 may be disposedcentrally on the motor side surface 471 of the circuit board 470 asshown in FIG. 3 so that the rotation angle sensor is disposed coaxiallywith the shaft 870, and thus the magnet 875, along the axis Ax, forexample, as shown in FIG. 2. The rotation angle sensor 30 may bereferred to as the sensor section 30.

The switching elements 121 may make up part of the first driver circuit120 shown in FIG. 4 (e.g., inverter 1). The switching elements 221 maymake up part of the second driver circuit 220 shown in FIG. 4 (e.g.,inverter 2).

Capacitors 128 and 228, inductors 129 and 229, and the control sections170 and 270 are mounted on the cover side surface 472.

Small computers such as microcontrollers or systems on a chip (SoCs) mayform control sections 170 and 270 with a separate computer forming eachof the control sections 170 and 270. In other words, the control section170 may be a microcontroller or SoC and the control section 270 may beanother microcontroller or SoC. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 170 and270 are assigned to the computers that are respectively part of thecontrol sections 170 and 270.

The capacitors 128 and 228 respectively smooth electrical power from thebatteries 191 and 291 shown in FIG. 4. The capacitors 128 and 228 alsoassist the electric power supply to the motor 80 by storing electriccharge. The capacitors 128 and 228 and the inductors 129 and 229 may beconfigured to form a filter circuit. For example, the capacitor 128 andthe inductor 129 may be combined to form an LC filter for the firstsystem L1. The capacitor 228 and the inductor 229 may be combined toform an LC filter for the second system L2. The filter circuits reducenoise transmitted from other devices that share the batteries 191 and291, and also reduce noise transmitted from the drive device 40 to theother devices sharing the batteries 191 and 291.

The power supply relays, motor relays, and current sensors (all notshown in the drawings) may also either be mounted on the motor sidesurface 471 or on the cover side surface 472.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ECU 10 includes the driver circuits 120 and 220,and the control circuits 170 and 270. In FIG. 4, the driver circuit isdescribed as “INV.” The first driver circuit 120 is a three-phaseinverter having six switching elements 121. The first driver circuit 120converts the electric power supplied to the first motor winding 180(e.g., converts the direct current (DC) power from the battery 191 to analternating current (AC) power). The switching elements 121 arecontrolled to turn on and off based on control signals from the firstcontrol section 170. The second driver circuit 220 is a three-phaseinverter having six switching elements 221. The second driver circuit220 converts the electric power supplied to the second motor winding280. The switching elements 221 are controlled to turn on and off basedon control signals from the second control section 270.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation angle sensor 30 includes the firstsensor section 130 and the second sensor section 230. The first sensorsection 130 outputs an output signal SGN1 to the first control section170, and the second sensor section 230 outputs an output signal SGN2 tothe second control section 270. That is, in the present embodiment, thefirst sensor section 130 is included in the first system L1, and thesecond sensor section 230 is included in the second system L2.

Unless described otherwise, the configurations of components andelements in the ECU 10, the rotation angle sensor 30, and the drivedevice 40, as described in the present embodiment, may be the same orsubstantially similar for the latter embodiments.

The first sensor section 130 includes magnetic field detection units 131and 132 and a signal processing unit 140. The second sensor section 230includes magnetic field detection units 231 and 232 and a signalprocessing unit 240. Since the processes performed by the sensorsections 130 and 230 are the same, the description focuses on thedetails of the process performed by the first sensor section 130 andomits a similar description for the second sensor section 230.

The magnetic field detection units 131, 132, 231, and 232 are detectionelements that detect changes in the magnetic field of the magnet 875based on the rotation of the motor 80 (e.g., via the rotation of therotor 860 and the shaft 870). A magnetoresistance (MR) sensor or a Hallsensor may be used, for example, as the magnetic field detection units131, 132, 231, and 232. The magnetic field detection units 131, 132,231, and 232 each have four sensor elements that output a cos+ signal, asin+ signal, a cos−signal, and a sin−signal. The cos+ signal, the sin+signal, the cos−signal, and the sin−signal, either collectively orindividually, may refer to the sensor signal. Similarly, the sensorsignal may refer to any or all of the cos+ signal, the sin+ signal, thecos−signal, and the sin−signal.

The signal process unit 140 includes rotation angle calculators 141 and142, a rotation count unit 143, a self-diagnostic unit 145, and acommunicator 146. The signal process unit 240 includes rotation anglecalculators 241 and 242, a rotation count unit 243, a self-diagnosticunit 245, and a communicator 246.

The rotation angle calculator 141 calculates a mechanical angle θm1 cbased on the sensor signal from the magnetic field detection unit 131.The rotation angle calculator 142 calculates the mechanical angle θm1 ebased on the sensor signal from the magnetic field detection unit 132.The rotation angle calculator 241 calculates the mechanical angle θm2 cbased on the sensor signal from the magnetic field detection unit 231.The rotation angle calculator 242 calculates the mechanical angle θm2 ebased on the sensor signal from the magnetic field detection unit 232.The mechanical angles θm1 c, θm1 e, θm2 c, and θm2 e are calculated fromthe arc tangent of the cos+ signal, the sin+ signal, the cos− signal,and the sin− signal.

In the present embodiment, the mechanical angles θm1 c and θm2 c arerespectively calculated based on the detection signals (i.e., sensorsignals) from the magnetic field detection units 131 and 231 and areused for various calculations in the control sections 170 and 270. Thecalculated mechanical angles θm1 e and θm2 e are respectively based onthe detection signals (i.e., sensor signals) of the magnetic fielddetection units 132 and 232 and are used to detect abnormalities byrespectively comparing the mechanical angles θm1 e and θm2 e with themechanical angles θm1 c and θm2 c. The magnetic field detection units131 and 231 may be used for purposes of control and are configured “forcontrol,” and the magnetic field detection units 132 and 232 may be usedfor purposes of abnormality detection and are configured “forabnormality detection.” Values calculated by the rotation anglecalculators 141, 142, 241, and 242 may be any values that can beconverted into mechanical angles.

The magnetic field detection units 131 and 231 for control and themagnetic field detection units 132 and 232 for abnormality detection maybe the same type of magnetic field detection units or be differenttypes. Since the magnetic field detection accuracy for abnormalitydetection may be much lower than the magnetic field detection accuracyfor control, the detection accuracy of the magnetic field detectionunits 132 and 232 used for abnormality detection may be lower than thedetection accuracy of the magnetic field detection units 131 and 231used for control. By using different types of magnetic field detectiondevices for control and abnormality detection, the likelihood of themagnetic field detection units malfunctioning at the same time isdecreased. When using the same magnetic field detection elements for themagnetic field detection 131, 132, 231, and 232, it may be possible tovary the layout and configuration of the magnetic field detection unitsor select detection elements from different manufacturing lots todecrease the possibility of malfunctions occurring at the same time. Thecalculation circuits of the rotation angle calculators 141, 142, 241,and 242 may be varied in a like manner to reduce the likelihood ofcircuit malfunctions occurring at the same time.

The rotation count unit 143 calculates a count value TC1 based on thesignal from the magnetic field detection unit 131. The rotation countunit 243 calculates a count value TC2 based on the signal from themagnetic field detection unit 231.

As shown in FIG. 6, in one rotation of the motor 80, the mechanicalangle θm takes a value of 0° to 360°, and four count regions are set.The position where the mechanical angle θm switches from 360° to 0° isset as a rotation angle switch position. In the drawings, the rotationangle switch position is illustrated as 0° and the 360° label isomitted. In the present embodiment, the mechanical angle θm equal to orgreater than 0° and less than 90° is referred to as “region R0,” themechanical angle θm equal to or greater than 90° and less than 180° isreferred to as “region R1,” the mechanical angle θm equal to or greaterthan 180° and less than 270° is referred to as “region R2,” and themechanical angle θm equal to or greater than 270° and less than 360° isreferred to as “region R3.” Each time the mechanical angle θm changesfrom one region to the other, the count values TC1 and TC2 either countup or down based on the rotation direction. In the present embodiment,the count values TC1 and TC2 count up when the motor 80 rotates in aforward direction, and count down when the motor 80 rotates in a reversedirection. That is, when the motor 80 makes one rotation in the forwarddirection, e.g., from 0° to 360°, the count values TC1 and TC2respectively count up and increase by 4. When the motor 80 makes onerotation in the reverse direction, e.g., from 360° to 0°, the countvalues TC1 and TC2 respectively count down and decrease by 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the self-diagnostic unit 145 monitors forabnormalities such as short circuits at the power source(s) or forground faults in the first sensor section 130. The communicator 146generates a first output signal SGN1 and transmits the first outputsignal SGN1 to the first control section 170. The first output signalSGN1 includes various signals such as the mechanical angles θm1 c andθm1 e, the count value TC1, and the self-diagnostic result. The firstoutput signal SGN1 may include additional signals. The self-diagnosticunit 245 monitors for abnormalities in the second sensor section 230.The communicator 246 generates the second output signal SGN2 andtransmits the second output signal SGN2 to the second control section270. The second output signal SGN2 includes various signals such as themechanical angles θm2 c and θm2 e, the count value TC2, and theself-diagnostic result. The second output signal SGN2 may includeadditional signals. The output signal of the present embodiment is adigital signal, and the communication method may use, for example, aserial peripheral interface (SPI) communication specification, but othercommunication methods may also be used.

Electric power is supplied from the first battery 191 to the firstsensor section 130 via the power supplies 192 and 193. The powersupplies 192 and 193 may be regulators or like controllers. Electricpower is constantly supplied via the power supply 192 to the magneticfield detection unit 131 and the rotation count unit 143. The magneticfield detection unit 131 and the rotation count unit 143 are surroundedby a dashed line to indicate that these components are constantlysupplied with power via the power source 192 and continued to besupplied with power for the purposes of continual detection andcalculation even when the vehicle ignition switch is turned off. In thefirst sensor section 130, components other than the magnetic fielddetection unit 131 and the rotation count unit 143 are supplied withelectric power via the power supply 193 when the vehicle ignition switch(not shown) is turned on. When the ignition switch is turned off, thepower supply to these components is stopped. Electric power is alsosupplied to the first control section 170 via the power supply 193 whenthe ignition switch is turned on. The vehicle ignition switch may alsobe referred to as a start switch.

Electric power is supplied from the second battery 291 to the secondsensor section 230 via the power supplies 292 and 293. Electric power isconstantly supplied via the power supply 292 to the magnetic fielddetection unit 231 and the rotation count unit 243. The magnetic fielddetection unit 231 and the rotation count unit 243 are surrounded by adashed line to indicate that these components are constantly suppliedwith power via the power source 292 and continued to be supplied withpower for the purposes of continual detection and calculation even whenthe vehicle ignition switch is turned off. In the second sensor section230, components other than the magnetic field detection unit 231 and therotation count unit 243 are supplied with electric power via the powersupply 293 when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on. When theignition switch is turned off, the power supply to these components isstopped. Electric power is also supplied to the second control section270 via the power supply 293 when the ignition switch is turned on.

A low power consumption element, such as a tunnel magnetoresistance(TMR) element may be used for the magnetic field detection units 131 and231 that receive a continuous power supply. To simplify the description,detailed descriptions of some wiring and control lines, such as theconnection line between the battery 191 and the power supply 193, may beomitted. The description, with reference to other figures, may similarlyomit a detailed description of electrical connections between electricalcomponents.

The rotation count units 143 and 243 may alternatively calculate thecount values TC1 and TC2 based on the signals of the magnetic fielddetection units 132 and 232, instead of using the signals from themagnetic field detection units 131 and 231. In this case, electric powermay be continuously supplied to the magnetic field detection units 132and 232.

As described above, each of the control sections 170 and 270 may be asmall computer such as a microcontroller or an SoC that includes, forexample, one or more CPUs or like processor cores, memory such asread-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM) and flash memory,input/output (I/O) peripherals, and a bus line for connecting thesecomponents. The processes executed by the control sections 170 and 270may be implemented as a software process, a hardware process, or as acombination of software and hardware. The software process may beimplemented by causing the CPU to execute a program or instruction setstored in memory. The program may be stored beforehand in a memory suchas the ROM. The memory for storing the program/instruction set is acomputer-readable, non-transitory, tangible storage medium. The hardwareprocess may be implemented by a special purpose electronic circuit. Forexample, in addition to the computers that make up the control sections170 and 270, the control sections 170 and 270 may include other hardwarecomponents that form specialized circuits for performing the processesassociated with the control sections 170 and 270. Such circuits mayinclude, for example, analog circuit components, digital circuitcomponents, logical circuit components, or a combination of thesecircuit components configured to perform the processes associated withthe control sections 170 and 270. In another example, the controlsections 170 and 270 may include one or more specialized circuits suchas application-specific integrated controllers (ASICs) orfield-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) configured to perform theprocesses associated with the control sections 170 and 270. [0041]

The first control section 170 and the second control section 270 areconfigured to communicate with each other for intercommunication betweenthe control sections 170 and 270. The communication between the controlsections 170 and 270 may be referred to as an “inter-computercommunication.” Any communication method such as a serial communicationlike SPI or SENT, CAN communication, FlexRay communication or the likemay be employed for the inter-computer communication between the controlsections 170 and 270.

The first control section 170 generates control signals to control theturning on and off of the switching elements 121 in the driver circuit120 for current feedback control. The control signals for currentfeedback control may be based, for example, on the mechanical angle θm1c, the detection values of the current sensor (not illustrated), orother sensor signals. The second control section 270 generates controlsignals to control the turning on and off of the switching elements 221in the driver circuit 220 for current feedback control. The controlsignals for current feedback control may be based, for example, on themechanical angle θm2 c, the detection values of the current sensor (notillustrated), or other sensor signals. When the mechanical angles areused for the current feedback control, the mechanical angles θm1 c andθm2 c are converted to electrical angles.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first control section 170 includes a signalacquisition unit 171, an absolute angle calculator 172, an abnormalitydeterminer 175, and a communicator 179. The second control section 270includes a signal acquisition unit 271, an absolute angle calculator272, an abnormality determiner 275, and a communicator 279.

As described above, the first control section 170 and the second controlsection 270 may be microcontrollers, SoCs, or like computers. The firstcontrol section 170 and second control section 270 may also includespecialized circuits such as ASICs of FPGAs. The signal acquisition unit171, absolute angle calculator 172, abnormality determiner 175, andcommunicator 179 elements in the first control section 170 may berealized as specialized hardware circuits (e.g., ASICs, FPGAs)configured to perform the processes associated with each of theseelements. Alternatively, the processes associated with each of theseelements may be performed by the control section 170 as amicrocontroller, where the signal acquisition unit 171, absolute anglecalculator 172, abnormality determiner 175, and communicator 179 shownin FIG. 5 represent functional blocks or processes performed by thecontrol section 170.

The same hardware/software realization applies to the signal acquisitionunit 271, absolute angle calculator 272, abnormality determiner 275, andcommunicator 279 elements of the second control section 270. That is,the elements of the second control section may be realized asspecialized hardware circuits or represent function blocks of processesperformed by the second control section 270 when these elements arerealized as software, hardware, or a software/hardware combination.

The signal acquisition unit 171 acquires the first output signal SGN1from the first sensor section 130. The signal acquisition unit 271acquires the second output signal SGN2 from the second sensor section230. The absolute angle calculator 172 calculates the absolute angle θa1using the mechanical angle θm1 c and the count value TC1. The absoluteangle calculator 272 calculates the absolute angle θa2 using themechanical angle θm2 c and the count value TC2. The absolute angles θa1and θa2 are, respectively, an amount of rotation from the referenceposition. The absolute angles θa1 and θa2 can be converted to a steeringangle θs, which is the rotation angle of the steering shaft 92, by usingthe gear ratio of the speed-reduction gear 89. The absolute angles θa1and θa2 may also be used for calculations other than the steering angle.The communicators 179 and 279 both transmit the absolute angles θa1 andθa2 as angle information to each other (i.e., mutual communicationbetween communicators 179 and 279).

The abnormality determiner 175 can determine abnormalities in the firstsystem L1 based on the comparison result of the mechanical angles θm1 cand θm1 e and the self-diagnostic result acquired from the first sensorsection 130. The abnormality determiner 175 can also determineabnormalities in the first system L1 by comparing the absolute anglesθa1 and θa2. The abnormality determiner 275 can determine abnormalitiesin the second system L2 based on the comparison result of the mechanicalangles θm2 c, θm2 e and the self-diagnostic result acquired from thesecond sensor section 230. The abnormality determiner 275 can alsodetermine abnormalities by comparing the absolute angles θa1 and θa2.When an abnormality is determined, the calculation of the absoluteangles θa1 and θa2 is stopped.

In the present embodiment, if one of the first and second systems isnormal, the normal system continues to calculate the absolute angle.When an abnormality determination is made by comparing the absoluteangles θa1 and θa2, the calculation of the absolute angles θa1 and θa2is stopped. Unless described otherwise, e.g., describing that the firstsystem has an abnormality, the description assumes that the first systemand the second system are both normal.

In the present embodiment, the same calculations are performed in bothof the systems L1 and L2. In describing the calculations between the twosystems, the calculation references may use “1” and “2” in thecalculation labels to respectively distinguish between the first systemL1 and the second system L2. As described above, the mechanical anglesθm1 c and θm2 c for control may be used for various other calculations.In the description of various other calculations, the subscript “c”indicating “for control” may be omitted. The same conventions may beapplied to the latter described embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rotation count unit 143 includes comparators151, 152, 153, and 154 (i.e., 151-154).

For the comparator 151, the cos+ signal is input to a non-invertedterminal and a threshold TH is input to an inverted terminal. Thecomparator 151 outputs a Lo or Hi cos+ comparison signal (i.e., outputseither a low level or high level cos+ comparison signal). That is, whenthe cos+ signal is larger than the threshold TH, the comparator 151outputs a Hi level cos+ comparison signal, and when the cos+ signal issmaller than the threshold TH, the comparator 151 outputs a Lo levelcos+ comparison signal.

For the comparator 152, the sin+ signal is input to a non-invertedterminal and a threshold TH is input to an inverted terminal. Thecomparator 152 outputs a Lo or Hi sin+ comparison signal. That is, whenthe sin+ signal is larger than the threshold TH, the comparator 152outputs a Hi level sin+ comparison signal, and when the sin+ signal issmaller than the threshold TH, the comparator 152 outputs a Lo levelsin+ comparison signal.

For the comparator 153, the cos− signal is input to a non-invertedterminal and a threshold TH is input to an inverted terminal. Thecomparator 153 outputs a Lo or Hi cos− comparison signal. That is, whenthe cos− signal is larger than the threshold TH, the comparator 153outputs a Hi level cos− comparison signal, and when the cos− signal issmaller than the threshold TH, the comparator 153 outputs a Lo levelcos− comparison signal of Lo.

For the comparator 154, the sin− signal is input to a non-invertedterminal and a threshold TH is input to an inverted terminal. Thecomparator 154 outputs a Lo or Hi sin− comparison signal. That is, whenthe sin− signal is larger than the threshold TH, the comparator 154outputs a Hi level sin− comparison signal, and when the sin− signal issmaller than the threshold TH, the comparator 154 outputs a Lo levelsin− comparison signal.

The thresholds TH input to the comparators 151-154 can be arbitrarilyset. The count value TC may be calculated by methods other than: (i) amutual comparison of the cos+ signal, sin+ signal, cos− signal, and sin−signal output signals; and (ii) a threshold comparison using a logicaloperation of the cos+ signal, sin+ signal, cos− signal, and sin− signaloutput signals

In the drawings, a cos+ comparison signal is labeled as “cos+_comp,” asin+ comparison signal as “sin+_comp,” a cos− comparison signal as“cos−_comp,” and a sin− comparison signal as “sin−_comp.”

The rotation count unit 243 in the second system L2 is configuredsimilarly to the configuration of the rotation count unit 143 of thefirst system L1, as described above and shown in FIG. 7. As such, adescription of the rotation count unit 243 similar to the descriptionfor the rotation count unit 143, and illustrations of the comparators inthe rotation count unit 243 are omitted.

FIG. 8 illustrates, in order from top to bottom, the sensor signal andthe absolute angle θa, a determination region, the comparison signal,and the count value TC.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when the comparisonsignal of the comparators 151-154 falls from a Hi level to a Lo level,the count value TC1 is counted up (i.e., incremented) when the motor 80rotates in the forward direction, and counted down (i.e., decremented)when the motor 80 rotates in the reverse direction. The direction ofrotation shall be determined separately.

As shown in FIG. 9, for example, the count value TC may be counted up orcounted down when the comparison signal of the comparators 151-154rises. FIG. 9 illustrates, in order from top to bottom, the sensoroutput, the comparison signal, and the count value TC. While thefollowing description focuses mainly on the forward rotation of themotor 80 (i.e., the motor 80 rotating in the forward direction), it isunderstood that the following description may also be applied to themotor rotating in the reverse direction, where calculations andprocesses for the forward direction may be logically reversed or negatedto obtain like results for the reverse direction.

Here, the absolute angle θa is described. In the present embodiment, thecount value TC and the mechanical angle θm are used to calculate anabsolute angle θa. The absolute angle θa is an angle to which the motor80 is rotated with respect to a certain reference point or referenceposition. For example, at time t1 shown in FIG. 10, the absolute angleθa is 870° when the mechanical angle θm is 150°, assuming a referencepoint of 0°. The absolute angle θa is 870° since the motor 80 hasalready rotated twice (i.e., 720°) from the reference point of 0°. Thereference point may be a point other than 0°. The absolute angle θa canbe calculated using equation (1-1) or equation (2-1). For purposes ofcalculating using equation (1-1) or equation (2-1), the example assumesa count value TC of 9 and a mechanical angle θm of 150°.θa=TC×90°+MOD(θm,90°)  Equation (1-1)In equation (1-1), MOD (θm,90°), where MOD is a modulo operation, meansdetermining a remainder by dividing the mechanical angle θm by 90°. Inthis case, the remainder is 60°, so MOD (150°, 90°) is 60°. Equation(1-1) may be described as calculating how many number of rotations havealready been performed based on the count value TC to determine wherethe rotation is generally, by determining in which one of the fourregions (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6) the rotation position currently is.Equation (1-1) more specifically calculates where in that region therotation position is at, based on the mechanical angle θm.θa=DIV(TC/4)×360°+θm  Equation (2-1)

DIV(TC/4) in equation (2-1), where DIV is an integer division operation,means a quotient obtained by dividing the count value TC by 4. In thisexample where the count value TC is 9, DIV(9/4) would be 2. Equation(2-1) determines how many times the motor 80 has rotated based on thecount value TC, and then further determines the current rotationposition based on the mechanical angle θm with reference to thereference point. As described above, the calculation results ofequations (1-1) and (2-1) are the same. That is, either equation (1-1)or equation (2-1) may be used to calculate the absolute angle θa.

A post-shift mechanical angle θms, described below in greater detail,may be used in place of the mechanical angle θm in equations (1-1) and(2-1), where appropriate.

During the counting of the count value TC, the count value TC maydeviate from the true or actual count value TC due to deviations in thethreshold value TH or sensor signal errors. As shown in FIG. 11,indefinite regions “Ri” may be designated as regions where the countingup or counting down of the count value may be performed. The indefiniteregion Ri is a region where the count value TC may deviate from anactual, true value depending on whether the counting up or the countingdown of the count value TC has already occurred. The definite regions“Rd” (e.g., Rd0, Rd1) are regions where the count value TC can bedefinitely determined, and the counting up or the counting down of thecount value is not performed. The definite regions Rd and the indefiniteregions Ri may be determined, for example, based on the threshold valuesand detection errors. In the example of the comparison signals of thecomparators 151-154 shown in FIG. 8, the indefinite region Ri may befrom the falling edge of a detection signal until the next rising edgeof the detection signal (i.e., the region between the falling edge andrising edge of a detection signal). When counting the count value TC bycomparison with the threshold value TH of the sensor signal, the rangeincluding the mechanical angles θm of 0°, 90°, 180°, or 270° are in theindefinite regions Ri, as shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, the indefiniteregions Ri are shown with a dot hatching. The definite region within theregion R0 is designated as Rd0, the definite region within the region R1is designated as Rd1, the definite region within the region R2 isdesignated as Rd2, and the definite region within the region R3 isdesignated as Rd3.

When the count value TC has a true value “x” in the region R0, the countvalue TC may take the following possible values. When the motor 80 isrotating in the forward direction, if a count-up happens in theindefinite region between the region Rd0 and the region Rd1 (e.g., thecount value TC may possible increment), the count value TC may possiblytake a value of x+1. When the motor 80 is rotating in the reversedirection, if a count-down happens in the indefinite region between theregion Rd0 and the region Rd3 (e.g., the count value TC may possiblydecrement), the count value TC may possibly take a value of x−1. Thatis, three count values TC of x, x+1, or x−1 can be taken in the regionR0. The same applies to the other regions.

During the transition from the region R3 to the region R0, for purposesof determining the count value TC, it is necessary to consider whetherthe mechanical angle θm has crossed 0° (i.e., is greater than 360° or amultiple thereof) in addition to considering whether count-up/down ofthe count value TC has been completed. When the motor 80 makes onerotation and the rotation angle (i.e., mechanical angle) θm transitionsfrom 360° to 0°, the 360°/0° position may be referred to as the switchposition, because the rotation angle θm switches from 360° to 0°. Forexample, when calculating the absolute angle θa by the equation (2-1),the absolute angle θa may be shifted by 360° from the true valuedepending on whether the mechanical angle θm has crossed 0° (i.e.,depending on the true position of the mechanical angle θm relative tothe switch position), as shown in FIG. 11. As a specific example, it isassumed that the mechanical angle θm is 340° and the count value TC is 3in the region R3. The count value TC is 4 in the region R0 aftertransition (e.g., after the mechanical θm increases past 360° and passes0°—that is, after the mechanical angle θm passes the switch position).The pre-count absolute angle θa in the region R3 is represented byequation (3), and the post-count absolute angle θa in the region R3 isrepresented by equation (4). The 360° shift in the absolute angle θa isnoticeable between equations (3) and (4).θa=DIV(3/4)×360+340=340  Equation (3)θa=DIV(4/4)×360+340=700  Equation (4)

Consequently, in the present embodiment, the absolute angle θa iscalculated when the mechanical angle θm is in the definite region Rd,and the absolute angle θa is not calculated when the mechanical angle θmis in the indefinite region Ri.

An absolute angle calculation process in the present embodiment isdescribed with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 12. The absolute anglecalculation process is performed by the absolute angle calculators 172and 272 at a predetermined cycle. Since the calculations in the absoluteangle calculators 172 and 272 are similar, the process is described withreference to the absolute angle calculator 172. However, the processesdescribed with reference to the absolute angle calculator 172 in thefirst system L1 may also be applied to the absolute angle calculator 272in the second system L2. The latter embodiments may also describesimilar processes among the first system L1 and the second system L2,where the process is described with reference to only one of thesystems. Unless described otherwise, the processes described withreference to one system may be applied to the other system, where suchsimilar processes may substitute corresponding values from the othersystem, as appropriate.

With reference to FIG. 12, at S101, the absolute angle calculator 172determines whether the mechanical angle θm is within the definite regionRd0. When the absolute angle calculator 172 determines that themechanical angle θm is within the definite region Rd0, i.e., “YES” atS101, the process proceeds to S105. When the absolute angle calculator172 determines that the mechanical angle θm is not within the definiteregion Rd0, i.e., “NO” at S101, the process proceeds to S102.

At S102, the absolute angle calculator 172 determines whether themechanical angle θm is within the definite region Rd1. When the absoluteangle calculator 172 determines that the mechanical angle θm is withinthe definite region Rd1, i.e., “YES” at S102, the process proceeds toS105. When the absolute angle calculator 172 determines that themechanical angle θm is not within the definite region Rd1, i.e., “NO” atS102, the process proceeds to S103.

At S103, the absolute angle calculator 172 determines whether themechanical angle θm is within the definite region Rd2. When the absoluteangle calculator 172 determines that the mechanical angle θm is withinthe definite region Rd2, i.e., “YES” at S103, the process proceeds toS105. When the absolute angle calculator 172 determines that themechanical angle θm is not within the definite region Rd2, i.e., “NO” atS103, the process proceeds to S104.

At S104, the absolute angle calculator 172 determines whether themechanical angle θm is within the definite region Rd3. When the absoluteangle calculator 172 determines that the mechanical angle θm is withinthe definite region Rd3, i.e., “YES” at S104, the process proceeds toS105. When the absolute angle calculator 172 determines that themechanical angle θm is not the definite region Rd3, i.e., “NO” at S104,the process proceeds to S106.

At S105, the absolute angle calculator 172 calculates the absolute angleθa using the count value TC and the mechanical angle θm. The absoluteangle calculator 172 performs the process at S106 when the mechanicalangle θm is in the indefinite regions Ri. At S106, the absolute anglecalculator 172 does not calculate the absolute angle θa, but uses theprevious absolute angle θa value stored in memory (i.e., a hold value).When S106 is performed right after a startup (i.e., immediately after avehicle is started or the ignition switch is turned on), an initialvalue stored in memory is used as the absolute angle θa. As such, byusing the initial value of the absolute angle θa stored in memory, theabsolute angle calculator 172 can calculate the absolute angle θawithout causing a 360° shift in the absolute angle θa (i.e., withoutcausing a 360° offset error in the true value of the absolute angle θa).

As described above, the ECU 10 in the present embodiment includes thesensor sections 130 and 230 and the control sections 170 and 270. Thesensor sections 130 and 230 detect the rotation of the motor 80, andoutput mechanical angles θm1 and θm2. The mechanical angles θm1 and θm2are rotation angles during one rotation (e.g., between 0° and 360°). Thesensor sections 130 and 230 also detect the count values TC1 and TC2related to the number of rotations of the motor 80. In the presentembodiment, the mechanical angles θm1 and θm2 may be referred to as“rotation angles” and “first rotation information.” The count values TC1and TC2 may be referred to as second rotation information. The countvalues TC1 and TC2 are for dividing one rotation of the motor 80 into aplurality of count regions and counting up (i.e., incrementing the countvalue) or counting down (i.e., decrementing the count value) when onecount region transitions/switches to another count region depending onthe rotation direction of the motor 80.

The control sections 170 and 270 have signal acquisition units 171 and271 and absolute angle calculators 172 and 272. The signal acquisitionunits 171 and 271 acquire the mechanical angles θm1 and θm2 and thecount values TC1 and TC2 from the sensor sections 130 and 230. Theabsolute angle calculators 172 and 272 calculate the absolute angles θa1and θa2, which are rotation amounts from the reference position, basedon the mechanical angles θm1 and θm2 and the count values TC1 and TC2.

In one rotation of the motor 80, there are indefinite regions Ri thatmay cause detection deviations (i.e., errors) of the count values TC1and TC2, and definite regions Rd in which no detection deviation occurs.The absolute angle calculator 172 and 272 calculate the absolute anglesθa1 and θa2 using the count values TC1 and TC2 in the definite regionRd.

In the present embodiment, the absolute angle calculators 172 and 272calculate the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 based on the mechanical anglesθm1 and θm2 and the count values TC1 and TC2 in the definite region Rd,and holds the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 when the mechanical angles θm1and θm2 and the count values TC1 and TC2 are in the indefinite regionRi. “Holds,” that is, “holding” the absolute angles θa1 and θa2, maymean that the absolute angle calculators 172 and 272 use a hold value,that is, a previous calculated or stored absolute angle value in memoryas the absolute angles θa1 and θa2. By holding the absolute angles θa1and θa2, that is, by using previous calculated or stored absolute anglesθa1 and θa2 in memory, the absolute angle calculators 172 and 272 canappropriately calculate the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 when themechanical angles θm1 and θm2 and the count values TC1 and TC2 are inthe indefinite region Ri.

The electric power steering apparatus 8 includes the ECU 10 and themotor 80 that outputs a torque for assisting a steering operation of thevehicle. That is, the ECU 10 of the present embodiment can be applied tothe electric power steering apparatus 8. Since the absolute angle θa iscalculated by the ECU 10 of the present embodiment, the ECU 10 cancalculate the steering angle by converting the absolute angle θa withthe gear ratio of the speed-reduction gear 89 for transmitting the drivepower of the motor 80 to the steering system 90. In such manner, the ECU10 acts like a steering angle sensor, and the electric power steeringapparatus 8 including the ECU 10 of the present embodiment can omit asteering angle sensor.

Second Embodiment

The absolute angle calculation process in the present embodiment isdescribed with reference to FIG. 13. As shown in FIG. 13, at S110, theabsolute angle calculator 172 determines whether a first calculation ofthe absolute angle θa has already been performed. Here, when theabsolute angle θa using the count value TC is calculated in the definiteregion Rd after turning on the start switch of the vehicle such as anignition switch, the first calculation is assumed to have beenperformed. In the present embodiment, turning on a start switch such oran ignition switch may be referred to as “system startup.” When theabsolute angle calculator 172 determines that the first calculation ofthe absolute angle θa has already been performed, i.e., “YES” at S110,the process proceeds to S117. When the absolute angle calculator 172determines that the first calculation of the absolute angle θa has notyet been performed, i.e., “NO” at S110, the process proceeds to S111.

The processes at S111, S112, S113, and S114 (i.e., S111-S114) aresimilar to the processes at S101, S102, S103, and S104 in the firstembodiment and shown in FIG. 12. When the absolute angle calculator 172makes an affirmative determination that the mechanical angle θm iswithin a definite region Rd (e.g., Rd0-Rd3) in any of S111-S114, i.e.,“YES” at S111-S114, the process proceeds to S115. At S115, the absoluteangle calculator 172 calculates the absolute angle θa using the countvalue TC and the mechanical angle θm, similar to the process at S105 inthe first embodiment. When the absolute angle calculator 172 makes anegative determination at any of S111-S114 and the determines that themechanical angle θm is not within a definite region Rd but rather in anindefinite region Ri, i.e., “NO” at S111-S114, the process proceeds toS116. At S116, the absolute angle calculator 172 does not calculate theabsolute angle θa but uses the initial value or a hold value of theabsolute angle θa.

In instances where the absolute angle calculator 172 determines that thefirst calculation of the absolute angle θa has already been performed,i.e., “YES” at S110, the process proceeds to S117. At S117, the absoluteangle calculator 172 calculates the absolute angle θa by adding adifference between mechanical angles θm to a previous calculation of theabsolute angle θa. Here, the absolute angle calculator 172 calculatesthe current value of the absolute angle θa based on the previous valueof the absolute angle θa and the difference between the current value ofthe mechanical angle θm and the previous value of the mechanical angleθm (i.e., the change amount of the mechanical angle θm), as shown inequation (5-1). In equation (5-1), the subscript (n) denotes the currentvalue, and subscript (n−1) denotes the previous value.θa _((n)) =θa _((n-1))+(θm _((n)) −θm _((n-1)))  Equation (5-1)

The absolute angle θa may be calculated from the absolute angle θa_initin the first calculation by adding the mechanical angle difference Iθmdfrom the first calculation. In equation 5-3, θm₍₀₎ denotes themechanical angle at the time of absolute angle calculation using thecount value TC, and θm₍₁₎ denotes the mechanical angle at the time ofthe first absolute angle calculation by adding the differences of themechanical angles θm. Further, the mechanical angle differences valueIθmd may be obtained as a separately calculated value from suchcalculation. That is, the mechanical angle differences value Iθmd may beobtained by calculations other than equation 5-3.θa _((n)) =θa_init+Iθmd  Equation (5-2)Iθmd=(θm ₍₁₎ −θm ₍₀₎)+ . . . +(θm _((n-1)) −θm _((n-2)))+(θm _((n)) −θm_((n-1)))   Equation (5-3)

At S118, the absolute angle calculator 172 stores the absolute angle θacalculated at S117 and the mechanical angles θm used in the calculationin memory (not shown). The stored absolute angle θa and mechanical angleθm values are used as by the absolute angle calculator 172 as theprevious values in the second and subsequent calculations. The memorymay be, for example, a volatile memory such as RAM for storing thelatest values of the absolute angle θa and the mechanical angles θm.

In the present embodiment, the absolute angle calculator 172 calculatesthe absolute angle θa using the count value TC when the mechanical angleθm initially enters the definite region Rd. After making the initialabsolute angle θa calculation using the count value TC, the absoluteangle calculator 172 does not use the count value TC but rathercalculates the absolute angle θa based on the first calculation absoluteangle θa_init and the mechanical angles θm. Specifically, the absoluteangle θa is calculated by adding the change amount of the mechanicalangles θm to the absolute angle θa_init from the first calculation. Insuch manner, values in the indefinite region do not cause calculationerrors, and the absolute angle calculator 172 can continue to makeappropriate absolute angle calculations when the values are in theindefinite region Ri.

In the present embodiment, the absolute angle calculators 172 and 272calculate the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 based on the mechanical anglesθm1 and θm2 in the definite region Rd in the first calculation at systemstartup, and thereafter in the second and subsequent calculations,calculate the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 based on the first-calculatedvalues of the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 and the mechanical angles θm1and θm2. In such manner, in the second and subsequent calculations, thecalculations of the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 can continue when thecount value TC and mechanical angle θm are in the indefinite regions Ri.The present embodiment also provides the same advantageous effects asthose described in the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment

The absolute angle calculation process in the third embodiment isdescribed with reference to FIG. 14. In FIG. 14, the processes performedby the absolute angle calculator 172 at S121, S122, S123, and S124(i.e., S121-S124) are similar to the processes performed by the absoluteangle calculator 172 at S101-S104 in FIG. 12 of the first embodiment.When the absolute angle calculator 172 makes an affirmativedetermination that the mechanical angle θm is within a definite regionRd (e.g., Rd0-Rd3) in any of S121-S124, i.e., “YES” at S121-S124, theprocess proceeds to S125. At S125, the absolute angle calculator 172calculates the absolute angle θa using the count value TC and themechanical angle θm, similar to the process at S105 in the firstembodiment. When the absolute angle calculator 172 makes a negativedetermination at any of S121-S124 and determines that the mechanicalangle θm is not within a definite region Rd but rather in an indefiniteregion Ri, i.e., “NO” at S121-S124, the process proceeds to S126.

At S126, similar to S110 in FIG. 13, the absolute angle calculator 172determines whether the first calculation of the absolute angle θa hasalready been performed. When the absolute angle calculator 172determines that the first calculation of the absolute angle θa has notyet been performed, i.e., “NO” at S126, the process proceeds to S127 andthe absolute angle calculator 172 uses an initial value stored inmemory, similar to the process at S116. When the absolute anglecalculator 172 determines that the first calculation of the absoluteangle θa has already been performed, i.e., “YES” at S126, the processproceeds to S128. At S128, similar to S117 in FIG. 13, the absoluteangle calculator 172 calculates the absolute angle θa by adding thedifference in mechanical angles θm to a previously calculated or storedabsolute angle θa in memory. At S129, similar to S118, the absoluteangle calculator 172 stores the calculated absolute angle θa and themechanical angle θm in memory. That is, in the present embodiment, theabsolute angle θa is calculated using the count value TC when therotation angle θm and count value TC are in the definite region Rd, andthe absolute angle θa is calculated by adding the mechanical angle θmdifference to a previously stored/calculated absolute angle θa when therotation angle the rotation angle θm and count value TC are in theindefinite region Ri.

In the present embodiment, in the second and subsequent calculations,the absolute angle calculator 172 calculates the absolute angles θa1 andθa2 based on the mechanical angles θm1 and θm2 and the count values TC1and TC2 in the definite region Rd, and also calculates the absoluteangles θa1 and θa2 based on the first calculation value of the absoluteangles θa1 and θa2 and the mechanical angles θm1 and θm2, when themechanical angles θm1 and θm2 and count values TC1 and TC2 are in theindefinite region Ri. In such manner, the absolute angle calculator 172can continually calculate the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 in theindefinite region Ri in the second and subsequent calculations. Thepresent embodiment provides the same advantageous effects as thosedescribed in the previous embodiments.

Fourth Embodiment

The fourth embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 15, 16, 17,and 18. As described in the first embodiment, when counting the countvalue TC by comparing threshold values of the sensor signals, theindefinite regions Ri are disposed near the boundaries of the definiteregions R0, R1, R2, and R3 (i.e., R0-R3), for example, as shown in FIG.11. As described above, three count values TC may be taken in each ofthe regions R0-R3 (e.g., x−1, x, and x+1).

In the present embodiment, the absolute angle calculator may perform aregion correction process by adding an offset value a to the mechanicalangle θm. In FIG. 15, by offsetting the mechanical angle θm, theabsolute angle θa is offset by the amount of α. The offset value a isset to an arbitrary value according to the angular width of theindefinite region Ri such that the indefinite region Ri does not crossthe boundary of any of the regions R0-R3. For example, as shown in FIG.15, if the angular width of the indefinite region Ri is 45°, the offsetvalue a is set to 22.5°, and the indefinite regions Ri are offset by22.5° so as to not overlap any of the boundaries of the definite regionsR0-R3.

By performing the region correction, when a count number of the regionR0 is designated as x, the count value TC that can be taken in theregion R0 is x or x−1. That is, when region correction is performedusing the offset value α, the number of the count values TC that canpossibly be taken in each of the regions R0 to R3 is two (i.e., x orx−1), which reduces the number of possible count values TC compared tocases without region correction. In this case, the region correctionreduces the number of count values in each region from three (e.g., x−1,x, and x+1) to two (e.g., x−1 and x). The corrected mechanical angle θmis appropriately set with the offset value a as a post-shift mechanicalangle θms after the shift (i.e., corrected by offsetting).

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 17, in the present embodiment, each region isfurther divided into two sub-count regions. In FIG. 17, in region R0,the sub-count region having the smaller post-shift mechanical angle θmsis defined as a first half region, and the sub-count region having thelarger post-shift mechanical angle θms is set as a second half region.The first half region includes the indefinite region Ri, and the secondhalf region does not include the indefinite region Ri. The same appliesto the regions R1-R3.

In the present embodiment, the absolute angle θa is calculated in thesecond half region of each of the regions R0-R3 that does not includethe indefinite region Ri. The absolute angle θa is not calculated in thefirst half region that includes the indefinite region Ri. In such case,it may also be regarded that the first half region is considered as the“indefinite region” and the second half region is considered as the“definite region.” When the indefinite region Ri is included in thesecond half region and the indefinite region Ri is not included in thefirst half region, the calculation of the absolute angle θa may beperformed by considering the first half region as the “definite region,”and the second half region as the “indefinite region.”

The absolute angle calculation process in the present embodiment isdescribed with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 18. At S151, theabsolute angle calculator 172 determines whether a remainder obtained bydividing the post-shift mechanical angle θms by 90° is larger than 45°.When it is determined that the remainder obtained by dividing themechanical angle θms by 90° is larger than 45°, i.e., “YES” at S151, theabsolute angle calculator 172 determines that the post-shift mechanicalangle is in the definite region Rd and the process proceeds to S152.When the absolute angle calculator 172 determines that the remainderobtained by dividing the mechanical angle θm by 90° is not larger than45°, i.e., “NO” at S151, the absolute angle calculator 172 determinesthat the angle θms is in the indefinite region Ri, and the processproceeds to S153.

At S152, the absolute angle calculator 172 calculates the absolute angleθa using the count value TC and the post-shift mechanical angle θms. AtS153, similar to the process at S106, the absolute angle calculator 172does not calculate the absolute angle θa, but uses the previous absoluteangle θa value. When S153 is performed right after a startup, an initialvalue stored in memory is used as the absolute angle θa.

In the present embodiment, when region correction using the offset valuea is performed and the count number in one rotation of the motor 80 is4, one rotation of the motor 80 is divided into 8 regions (i.e., 2×4).The absolute angle calculator 172 calculates the absolute angle θa in aregion that does not include the indefinite region Ri. In such manner,the angular deviation and error of the absolute angle θa can be madesmaller than 90°. Since region correction using the offset value a makesthe determination of the definite region Rd easier, the calculation loadon the absolute angle calculator 172 and thus the control section 170can be reduced to use less computational resources and make processingfaster and more efficient.

In the present embodiment, when the rotation angle switch position wherethe mechanical angles θm1 and θm2 are switched from 360° to 0° isincluded in the indefinite region Ri, the control sections 170 and 270shift the mechanical angles θm1 and θm2 so that the rotation angleswitch position is located in the definite region Rd. In such manner,the region correction using the offset value a can reduce the number ofpossible count values TC1 and TC2 in each of the regions R0-R3.

The absolute angle calculators 172 and 272 divide each count region intoa plurality of division regions (i.e., sub-count regions), and shift themechanical angles θm1 and θm2 so that the indefinite region Ri isincluded in one of the division regions in the count region. As such,the absolute angle calculators 172 and 272 consider the division regionsthat do not include the indefinite regions Ri as the definite regionsRd. In the present embodiment, the number of divisions of each countregion is 2, and one count region is divided into a first half regionand a second half region. The mechanical angles θm1 and θm2 are shiftedso that the indefinite region Ri is included in one of the first halfregion and the second half region, and the other one of the first halfregion and the second half region is considered as the definite regionRd. In such manner, the calculations for determining whether an angle isin the indefinite region Ri or in the definite region Rd can besimplified, and the calculation load on the absolute angle calculators172 and 272 and thus control sections 170 and 270 can be reduced. In thepresent embodiment, the first half region and the second half region maybe referred to as “sub-count regions,” where the first half region maybe referred to as a “part of the sub-count regions,” and the second halfregion may be referred to as “other sub-count regions.” The presentembodiment also provides the same advantageous effects as thosedescribed in the previous embodiments.

Fifth Embodiment

The absolute angle calculation process of the fifth embodiment isdescribed with reference to FIG. 19. The process at S161 is similar tothe process at S110 in FIG. 13. When the absolute angle calculator 172determines that the first calculation of the absolute angle θa hasalready been performed, i.e., “YES” at S161, the process proceeds toS162, and the absolute angle θa is calculated by adding the mechanicalangle θm difference to a previous absolute angle θa value, similar tothe calculation performed by the absolute angle calculator 172 at S117.When the absolute angle calculator 172 determines that the firstcalculation of the absolute angle θa has not yet been performed, i.e.“NO” at S161, the process proceeds to S163.

The process at S163 is similar to the process at S151 in FIG. 18. Whenthe absolute angle calculator 172 determines that the remainder obtainedby dividing the mechanical angle θm by 90° is greater than 45°, i.e.,“YES” at S163, the absolute angle calculator 172 determines that theangle is in the definite region Rd and the process proceeds to S164.Similar to the process at S115 in FIG. 13, the count value TC and themechanical angle θm are used to calculate the absolute angle θa. AtS165, similar to the process at S118, the absolute angle calculator 172stores the absolute angle θa calculated at S162 or S164 and themechanical angle θm used in the calculation in memory. If the absoluteangle calculator 172 determines that the remainder obtained by dividingthe mechanical angle θm by 90° is not more than 45°, i.e., “NO” at S163,the process proceeds to S166. At S166, the absolute angle calculator 172does not calculate the absolute angle θa and the initial value isheld/used, similar to the process performed at S116 in FIG. 13. Theconfiguration of the present embodiment also provides similaradvantageous effects as those described in the previous embodiments.

Sixth Embodiment

The absolute angle calculation process of the sixth embodiment isdescribed with reference to FIG. 20. The process at S171 is similar tothe process performed at S151 in FIG. 18. When the absolute anglecalculator 172 determines that the remainder obtained by dividing themechanical angle θm by 90° is greater than 45°, i.e., “YES at S171, theprocess proceeds to S172. At S172, the absolute angle calculator 172calculates the absolute angle θa using the count value TC and themechanical angle θm. When the absolute angle calculator 172 determinesthat the remainder obtained by dividing the mechanical angle θm by 90°is 45° or less, i.e. “NO” at S171, the process proceeds to S173.

The process at S173 is similar to the process S110 in FIG. 13. When theabsolute angle calculator 172 determines that the first calculation ofthe absolute angle θa has already been performed, i.e., “YES” at S173,the process proceeds to S174 and the absolute angle calculator 172calculates the absolute angle θa by adding the mechanical angle θmdifference to a previous absolute angle θa value. At S175, similar tothe process at S118, the absolute angle calculator 172 stores theabsolute angle θa calculated at S172 or S174 and the mechanical angle θmused in the calculation. When the absolute angle calculator 172determines that the first calculation of the absolute angle θa has notyet been performed, i.e. “NO” at S173, the process proceeds to S176, theabsolute angle calculator 172 does not calculate the absolute angle θa,and the initial value is used. The configuration of the presentembodiment also provides the similar advantageous effects as thosedescribed in the previous embodiments.

Seventh Embodiment

The seventh embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 21, 22, and23A, 23B, 23C. As shown in FIG. 21, the first control section 170 of thepresent embodiment includes the signal acquisition unit 171, theabsolute angle calculator 172, a reference value storage unit 174, theabnormality determiner 175, and the communicator 179. The second controlsection 270 includes the signal acquisition unit 271, the absolute anglecalculator 272, a reference value storage unit 274, the abnormalitydeterminer 275, and the communicator 279.

The reference value storage units 174 and 274 store reference values B1and B2. The reference value storage units 174 and 274 are implemented byusing a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or a like memory, so thatthe reference values B1 and B2 are held in memory even when the startswitch of the vehicle is turned off and the power supply to the firstcontrol section 170 and the second control section 270 is cut off. Inthe present embodiment, in addition to the mechanical angles θm1 and θm2and the count values TC1 and TC2, the absolute angle calculators 172,272 also use the reference values B1 and B2 for calculating the absoluteangles θa1 and θa2.

The reference values B1 and B2 are set when the batteries 191 and 291are connected and the start switch is first turned on. The first startof the vehicle after the batteries 191 and 291 are connected may bereferred to as the “initial startup.” The reference values B1 and B2 maybe stored when the reference values B1 and B2 are first set (i.e.,before the vehicle is first switched on), or the reference values B1 andB2 may be stored when the start switch is turned off for the first timeafter the initial startup, for example, during the manufacture of thevehicle. Among these two storage times, the reference values B1 and B2may be better stored when the vehicle is first turned off after beingturned on for the first time, because the memory notes that a memoryrewrite has occurred and records the number of rewrites as one when thevehicle start switch is first turned on.

When an initialization instruction is used due to abnormality detectionfor initializing the reference values B1 and B2, or when an initialsetting is performed during the vehicle manufacture or at the vehicledealer, the calculation and storage of the reference values B1 and B2may be performed. The first calculation after the above-describedinitialization instruction may also be included in the concept of the“initial startup.” In the above description, the “initial startup” isdescribed as turning on of the start switch for the first time after theconnection of the batteries 191 and 291. In terms of system control forcapturing abnormalities in the count values TC1 and TC2, “initialstartup” may also be considered in cases where the power supplies 192and 292 have abnormal voltages when the start switch is turned on, or ifthe sensor sections 130 and 230 have had a history of abnormalities whenthe start switch is switched on. That is, “initial startup” may not onlymean the first time a vehicle is switched on after connecting thebatteries 191 and 291, but may also include cases where there areabnormalities when the vehicle is switched on.

In the above-described embodiments, when the mechanical angles θm1 andθm2 are in the indefinite region Ri when the vehicle start switch isturned on, the absolute angle calculators 172 and 272 cannot perform thecalculations of the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 until the mechanicalangles θm and θm2 enter the definite regions Rd when the motor 80 isrotated. In the present embodiment, the reference values B1 and B2 arestored in the reference value storage units 174 and 274 at the initialstartup after the batteries 191 and 291 are connected, and subsequentlythe absolute angle calculators 172 and 272 can calculate the absoluteangles θa1 and θa2 immediately after the turning on of the start switch,regardless of the rotation position of the motor 80.

In the present embodiment, the count value TC at the initial startup isset as the initial count value TC_init, the mechanical angle θm at theinitial startup is set as the initial mechanical angle θm_init, and theinitial count value TC_init and the initial mechanical angle θm_init arestored as the reference value B.

The absolute angle calculation process in the present embodiment isdescribed with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 22. The process in FIG.22 is performed by the control section 170 at a predetermined cycle. AtS201, the absolute angle calculator 172 determines whether it is theinitial startup after battery connection. When the absolute anglecalculator 172 determines that it is not the initial startup afterbattery connection, i.e. “NO” at S201, process proceeds to S203. Whenthe absolute angle calculator 172 determines that it is the initialstartup after battery connection, i.e. “YES” at S201, the processproceeds to S202.

At S202, the absolute angle calculator 172 stores the current countvalue TC and the current mechanical angle θm in the reference valuestorage unit 174 as the initial count value TC_init and the initialmechanical angle θm_init.

At S203, the absolute angle calculator 172 calculates the mechanicalangle deviation Δθm using equation (6). At S204, the absolute anglecalculator 172 calculates a region adjustment value Ra using equation(7). At S205, the absolute angle calculator 172 calculates the countdeviation ΔTC using equation (8). The count deviation ΔTC is a valueindicating how much the count value TC has changed from the initialposition. θm and TC in the equations respectively represent the currentmechanical angle and the current count value. In equation (7), thequotient obtained by dividing the mechanical angle deviation Δθm by 90°is calculated, and the region adjustment value Ra can be considered as avalue obtained by converting the mechanical angle deviation Δθm into thecount number.Δθm=θm−θm_init  Equation (6)Ra=DIV(Δθm/90°)  Equation (7)ΔTC=TC−TC_init−Ra  Equation (8)

At S206, the absolute angle calculator 172 determines whether the countdeviation ΔTC is greater than zero. When the absolute angle calculator172 determines that the count deviation ΔTC is larger than 0, i.e. “YES”at S206, the process proceeds to S207. When the absolute anglecalculator 172 determines that the count deviation ΔTC is less than orequal to 0, i.e. “NO” at S206, the process proceeds to S208.

At S207 and S208, the absolute angle calculator 172 calculates thenumber of rotations N. At S207, to prevent undercounting the number ofrotations N, the absolute angle calculator 172 obtains a quotient byadding 1 to the count deviation ΔTC and dividing by 4 as the number ofrotations N, as calculated in equation (9-1). In cases where there is noundercounting of the number of rotations N, the absolute anglecalculator 172 rounds the number of rotations N after division by 4(i.e., decimal fraction truncated). At S208, to prevent over countingthe number of rotations N, the absolute angle calculator 172 obtains aquotient by subtracting 1 from the count deviation ΔTC and dividing by 4as the number of rotations N, as calculated in equation (9-2). In caseswhere there is no over counting of rotations N, the absolute anglecalculator 172 rounds the number of rotations N after division by 4(i.e., decimal fraction truncated). At S209, the absolute anglecalculator 172 calculates the absolute angle θa using the number ofrotations N, as shown in (2-2).N=DIV{(ΔTC+1)/4}  Equation (9-1)N=DIV{(ΔTC−1)/4}  Equation (9-2)θa=N×360°+8m  Equation (2-2)

In the present embodiment, the initial mechanical angle θm_init and theinitial count value TC_init stored as the reference value B may be inthe definite region Rd or the indefinite region Ri. As shown in FIG.23A, when the initial position is in the indefinite region Ri and thecount value TC is not yet counted, since the count-up happens in theregion R0, the count number in the region R0 is 0 or 1 (i.e.,indefinite). When the motor 80 returns to the region R0 after onerotation, the count value TC is 4 or 5.

As shown in FIG. 23B, when the initial position is in the definiteregion Rd and the count-up has already happened, the count number in theregion R0 is zero (i.e., definite). Further, when the motor 80 returnsto the region R0 after one rotation, the count value TC is 4.

As shown in FIG. 23C, when the initial position is in the definiteregion Rd and the count-up happens before crossing the region boundary,when the motor 80 returns to the region R0 after one rotation, the countvalue TC is 3 or 4.

In summary, based on FIGS. 23A, 23B, and 23C, when the motor 80 returnsto the initial position, after one rotation from the initial position,regardless of whether the initial position is in the indefinite regionRi or in the definite region Rd, the count value TC is 4N±1. As such, byhaving the absolute angle calculator 172 perform the calculations atS206, S207, and S208 in FIG. 22, and by having the absolute anglecalculator 172 calculate the absolute angle θa with equation (2-2), theabsolute angle calculator 172 can calculate the absolute angle θaappropriately, regardless of whether the initial position is in thedefinite region Rd or in the indefinite region Ri.

In the present embodiment, the initial count value TC_init and theinitial mechanical angle θm_init are stored in the reference valuestorage units 174 and 274 as the reference value B at the initialstartup after the batteries 191 and 291 are connected. Thus, regardlessof whether the mechanical angle θm is in the definite region Rd or inthe indefinite region Ri, the absolute angle calculators 172 and 272 cancalculate the absolute angle θa immediately after the start switch isturned on. In the present embodiment, since the reference value B is thecount value TC and the mechanical angle θm at the time of initialstartup, the calculation load on the absolute angle calculators 172 and272 and thus the control sections 170 and 270 can be reduced. Theconfiguration of the present embodiment provides the similaradvantageous effects as those described in the previous embodiments.

Eighth Embodiment

The eighth embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 24. Theabsolute angle calculation process in the present embodiment isdescribed with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 24. At S221, theabsolute angle calculator 172 calculates the count value TC of areference region. In the present embodiment, the region R0 is set as thereference region, and the count value TC of the region R0 is calculatedusing equation (10). The count value TC of the region R0 is denoted asTC(R0).TC _((R0)) =TC−MOD(θms,90°)  Equation (10)

The process at S222 is similar to the process at S201. When the absoluteangle calculator 172 determines that the current process is not theinitial startup, i.e., “NO” at S222, the process proceeds to S224. Whenthat the absolute angle calculator 172 determines that the currentprocess is the initial startup, i.e., “YES” at S222, the processproceeds to S223.

At S223, the absolute angle calculator 172 stores the initial countvalue TC_init of the region R0 (i.e., the reference region) as thereference value B in the reference value storage unit 174. At S224, theabsolute angle calculator 172 calculates the count deviation ΔTC usingequation (11). The processes at S225, S226, S227, and S228 arerespectively similar to the processes at S206, S207, S208, and S209 inFIG. 22. At S228 the absolute angle calculator 172 calculates theabsolute angle θa. In the present embodiment, the post-shift mechanicalangle θms after shifting is used instead of the mechanical angle θm.ΔTC=TC _((R0)) −TC_init  Equation (11)

In the present embodiment, the absolute value calculator 172 calculatesthe number of rotations N in consideration of possible undercounts andover counts. As the absolute value calculator 172 calculates theabsolute angle θa using the number of rotations N, the absolute valuecalculator 172 can appropriately calculate the absolute angle θa. Theinitial count value TC_init of the reference region is stored as thereference value B. As such, only one piece of data is stored, i.e., thereference value B. The present embodiment provides similar advantageouseffects as those described in the previous embodiments.

Ninth Embodiment

The absolute angle calculation process in the ninth embodiment isdescribed with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 25. The process ofS241 is similar to the process at S201. When the absolute anglecalculator 172 determines that a vehicle start is not the initialstartup, i.e. “NO” at S241, the process proceeds to S247. When theabsolute angle calculator 172 determines that the vehicle start is theinitial startup, i.e., “YES” at S241, the process proceeds to S242.

At S242, the absolute angle calculator 172 determines whether thepost-shift mechanical angle θms is in the definite region Rd. When theabsolute angle calculator 172 determines that the post-shift mechanicalangle θms is not in the definite region Rd, “NO” at S242, the absoluteangle calculator 172 determines that the post-shift mechanical angle θmsis in the indefinite region Ri, the process proceeds to S243, and theabsolute angle calculator 172 uses/holds the initial value. When theabsolute angle calculator 172 determines that the post-shift mechanicalangle θms is in the definite region Rd, i.e. “YES” at S242, the processproceeds to S244.

At S244, the absolute angle calculator 172 calculates a remainder valueRM obtained by dividing the count value TC by the number of regions.When the remainder is 0, the remainder value RM is set to 4. At S245,the absolute angle calculator 172 sets an initial remainder valueRM_init as the reference value B. The initial remainder value RM_init isthe remainder value RM corresponding to the count value TC at theinitial startup. The absolute angle calculator 172 then stores thereference value B in the reference value storage unit 174 in associationwith each of the regions R0-R3.

For example, when the current post-shift mechanical angle θms is in theregion R0 and the count value TC is 47, the remainder value RM is 3,where an initial remainder value corresponding to the region R0 isRM_init_((R0)) is 3, an initial remainder value corresponding to theregion R1 is RM_init_((R1)) is 4, an initial remainder valuecorresponding to the region R2 is RM_init_((R2)) is 1, and an initialremainder value corresponding to the region R3 is RM_init_((R3)) is 2.The absolute angle calculator 172 stores such values in the referencevalue storage unit 174. At S246, the absolute angle calculator 172calculates the absolute angle θa using equation (1-2).θa=TC×90+MOD(θms,90°)  Equation (1-2)

In cases where the absolute angle calculator 172 determines that thevehicle start is not the initial startup, i.e., “NO” at S241, theprocess proceeds to S247. At S247, similar to the process at S244, theabsolute angle calculator 172 calculates the remainder value RM. AtS248, the absolute angle calculator 172 calculates the count adjustmentvalue A using equation (12). The count adjustment value A is a valuecorresponding to the count deviation (i.e., a count error) between theinitial position and the current position. RM_init_((Rx)) in equation(12) is an initial remainder value corresponding to the current regionwhere the post-shift mechanical angle θms currently is. At S249, theabsolute angle calculator 172 calculates the adjusted count value TC_ausing equation (13). At S250, the absolute angle calculator 172calculates the absolute angle θa using the adjusted count value TC_ausing equation (1-3).A=RM_init_((Rx)) −RM  Equation (12)Tc_a=TC+A  Equation (13)θa=TC_a×90°+MOD(θms,90°)  Equation (1-3)

In the present embodiment, at the initial startup, the absolute anglecalculator 172 stores the remainder value RM in the definite region ofeach of the four regions, and the absolute angle calculator 172 canappropriately calculate the absolute angle θa by correcting the countvalue TC with the stored value. By setting the reference value to bestored as the remainder value, the stored value is smaller compared tostoring the count value TC itself. Here, the count value TC may becorrected based on the remainder value RM, so that the remainder valueRM of the region R0 becomes zero. Then, just like the seventh embodimentor the eighth embodiment, by calculating the absolute angle θa using thenumber of rotations N after accounting for undercounts and over countsin the number of rotations N, the absolute angle calculator 172 canappropriately calculate the absolute angle θa regardless of whether theinitial position is in the definite region Rd or in the indefiniteregion Ri. The present embodiment provides similar advantageous effectsas those described in the previous embodiments.

Tenth Embodiment

The tenth embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27. Inthe above-described embodiments, the method of calculating the absoluteangle θa accurately in each system has been described. As shown in FIG.26, when the initial position at the system start time differs dependingon the system, there is a possibility that an error will occur in theabsolute angle among the different systems. Therefore, in the presentembodiment, error correction is performed by mutually transmitting(i.e., inter-system communication) the mechanical angle θm, the countvalue TC, or the absolute angle θa as the angle information. The angleinformation is also transmitted between the systems and used fordetecting abnormalities.

As shown in FIG. 27, the first control section 170 includes the signalacquisition unit 171, the absolute angle calculator 172, the referencevalue storage unit 174, the abnormality determiner 175, an inter-systemcorrection unit 176, and the communicator 179. The second controlsection 270 includes the signal acquisition unit 271, the absolute anglecalculator 272, the reference value storage unit 274, the abnormalitydeterminer 275, an inter-system correction unit 276, and thecommunicator 279. The inter-system correction units 176 and 276calculate corrected absolute angles θa1_s and θa2_s based on the angleinformation of the subject system, the angle information of the othersystem, and an abnormality determination result of the other system.

The communicator 179 and 279 mutually transmit the absolute angles θa1and θa2 as the angle information. If the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 arenormal, the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 have substantially the samevalue. Therefore, when the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 are mutuallytransmitted as the angle information, the abnormality determiners 175and 275 calculate an inter-system absolute angle deviation Δθax usingequation (14), and, when the inter-system absolute angle deviation Δθaxis greater than an abnormality determination threshold θa_th, theabnormality determiners 175 and 275 may determine that there areabnormalities in the absolute angles θa1 and θa2.

In the present embodiment, correction is made on the second system side,so that the corrected absolute angle θa2_s matches the absolute angleθa1. The inter-system correction unit 276 calculates the correctedabsolute angle θa2_s based on the inter-system absolute angle deviationΔθax in equation (15). The inter-system correction unit 176 sets theabsolute angle θa1 as it is (i.e., without change) as the correctedabsolute angle θa1_s. In the inter-system correction units 176 and 276,any calculation for matching the two angles θa1_s and θa2_s may beperformed. That is, for example, the average value of the absoluteangles θa1 and θa2 before correction may be set as the correctedabsolute angles θa1_s and θa2_s. Such variable correction methods mayalso be applied to correcting the number of rotations N and to the caseof mutually transmitting the mechanical angles θm1 and θm2 and the countvalues TC1 and TC2.

If there is an abnormality on the first system side, the inter-systemcorrection unit 276 sets the absolute angle θa2 as the correctedabsolute angle θa2_s without performing an inter-system correctioncalculation. The inter-system correction units 176 and 276 output thecorrected absolute angles θa1_s and θa2_s together with rotation angleabnormality information relating to the subject system or the othersystem.Δθax=θa2−θa1  Equation (14)θa2_s=θa2−Δθax  Equation (15)

As described above, the control sections 170 and 270 acquire themechanical angles θm1 c and θm2 c for control processes and themechanical angles θm1 e and θm2 e for abnormality detection. As such,the control sections 170 and 270 can already detect whether the subjectsystem (i.e., first system L1 and second system L2) has abnormalities inthe mechanical angle. In order to correct the error factor in the numberof rotations N, the inter-system correction units 176 and 276 maycalculate the inter-system rotation number deviation ΔN for calculatingthe corrected absolute angle θa2_s using equations (16) and (17). Whenθa1−θa2 in equation (16) is a value close to 360°, for example, 358°, arounding adjustment that considers that ΔN=1 may beincorporated/programmed into the calculation.ΔN=DIV{(θa1−θa2)/360°}  Equation (16)θa2_s=θa2−ΔN×360°  Equation (17)

In place of the absolute angles θa1 and θa2, the mechanical angles θm1and θm2 and the count values TC1 and TC2 may be mutually transmitted asthe absolute angle information. The count values TC1 and TC2 may bedifferent depending on the initial position at the system start time. Onthe other hand, since the mechanical angles θm1 and θm2 are detected asthe same rotor position, if they are normal, the mechanical angles θm1and θm2 should take substantially the same value. Therefore, when theinter-system mechanical angle deviation Δθmx, as calculated by equation(18), is larger than the abnormality determination threshold θm_th, theabnormality determiners 175 and 275 can determine abnormalities in themechanical angles θm1 and θm2.

The inter-system correction unit 276 calculates the corrected mechanicalangle θm2_s using equation (20) and the corrected count value TC2_susing equation (21), based on the inter-system mechanical angledeviation Δθmx calculated by equation (18) and an inter-system countdeviation ΔTCx using equation (19). In such manner, the correctedmechanical angle θm2_s matches the mechanical angle θm1 of the firstsystem, and the corrected count value TC2_s matches the count value TC1of the first system. The corrected absolute angle θa2_s calculated byusing the corrected mechanical angle θm2_s and the corrected count valueTC2_s matches the calculated absolute angle θa1 calculated by using themechanical angle θm1 and the count value TC1 in the first system.Δθmx=θm2−θm1  Equation (18)ΔTCx=TC2−TC1  Equation (19)θm2_s=θm2−Δθm  Equation (20)TC2_s=TC2−ΔTC  Equation (21)

In such manner, the inter-system error of the absolute angles θa1 andθa2 can be reduced, and inconsistent control due to the inter-systemerror of the absolute angles θa1 and θa2 can be prevented. That is, bycomparing the absolute angles θa1 and θa2, the control sections 170 and270 of the current embodiment can appropriately detect abnormalities inthe absolute angle information. As such, the current embodiment providessimilar advantageous effects as those described in the previousembodiments.

Other Embodiments

In the above-described embodiments, the first rotation information is amechanical angle and the second rotation information is a count value.In other embodiments, the first rotation information may be any valuethat can be converted to a mechanical angle. In other embodiments, thesecond rotation information may be any value that can be converted tothe number of rotations. In the above-described embodiments, onerotation is divided into four regions, and the count value for onerotation of the motor is four. In other embodiments, one rotation may bedivided into different numbers such as three, five, or more.

In the fourth embodiment, each count region is divided into two. Inother embodiments, each count region may be divided into three or moreregions, and the mechanical angle may be shifted so that an indefiniteregion is not included in at least one of the three or more dividedregions.

In the above-described embodiments, two sensor sections and two controlsections are provided for a dual system configuration. In otherembodiments, the number of systems may be three or more, or one.

In the above-described embodiments, electric power is supplied to thefirst sensor section and the second sensor section from two separatebatteries, and an output signal is transmitted from two sensor sectionsto two separate control sections. In other embodiments, electric powermay be supplied from a single battery to a plurality of sensor sections.In such a case, a power source such as a regulator may be provided foreach sensor section or may be shared among the sensor sections. In otherembodiments, a plurality of sensor sections may respectively transmit anoutput signal to a single control section.

In other embodiments, the absolute angle information may be any valuethat can be converted to an absolute angle. For example, since thesteering angle detected by the steering angle sensor can be convertedinto the absolute angle by the gear ratio of the speed-reduction gear,the steering angle information on the steering angle may be used as theabsolute angle information. That is, in other words, the other systemabsolute angle is not necessarily limited to internal informationobtained from inside the rotation detection device, but may also beobtained from outside the rotation detection device (e.g., an externallyobtained value).

In the above-described embodiments, the sensor section is a detectionelement that detects a change in the magnetic field of the magnet. Inother embodiments, other rotation angle detection methods and devicesmay be used such as a resolver or an inductive sensor. In addition, acommunicator may be provided for transmitting each type of informationtype. For example, a first communicator may be provided for transmittingthe first rotation information and a second communicator may be providedfor transmitting the second rotation information.

In the above-described embodiments, the rotation number calculation isnot performed based on the signal from the magnetic field detection unitfor abnormality detection. In other embodiments, the rotation numbercalculation may be performed based on the signal from the magnetic fielddetection unit for abnormality detection, and the calculation result maybe transmitted to the control section. In such manner, the inter-systemcorrection and/or the abnormality monitoring by an inter-systemcomparison for the second system can be omitted.

In the above-described embodiments, the motor is a three-phase brushlessmotor. In other embodiments, the motor is not limited to a permanentmagnet-type three phase brushless motor, and may be implemented as amotor of any type. The motor may also be a generator, or may be amotor-generator having both of a motor function and a generatorfunction. That is, the rotating electric machine is not necessarilylimited to a motor, but may be a motor, a generator, or amotor-generator.

In the above-described embodiments, a control device having the rotationdetection device is applied to an electric power steering apparatus. Inother embodiments, the control device having the rotation detectiondevice may be applied to apparatuses other than an electric powersteering apparatus.

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments describedabove, and various modifications may be implemented without departingfrom the spirit of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rotation detection device comprising: a sensorsection configured to detect a rotation of a motor and to output firstrotation information that includes a rotation angle of the motor withinone rotation of the motor and second rotation information that includesa number of rotations of the motor; and a control section including: asignal acquirer configured to acquire the first rotation information andthe second rotation information from the sensor section; and an absoluteangle calculator configured to calculate an absolute angle indicative ofa rotation amount from a reference position based on the first rotationinformation and the second rotation information; wherein the onerotation of the motor is divided into an indefinite region and adefinite region, wherein the indefinite region is a region in which adetection deviation of the second rotation information occurs, andwherein the definite region is a region in which no detection deviationof the second rotation information occurs, and wherein the absoluteangle calculator is further configured to calculate the absolute angleusing the second rotation information from the definite region.
 2. Therotation detection device of claim 1, wherein the absolute anglecalculator is further configured to calculate the absolute angle (i) ina first calculation after system startup, based on the first rotationinformation and the second rotation information from the definiteregion, and (ii) in subsequent calculations after the first calculation,based on the absolute angle calculated in the first calculation and thefirst rotation information.
 3. The rotation detection device of claim 1,wherein the absolute angle calculator is further configured to calculatethe absolute angle (i) in a first calculation after system startup,based on the second rotation information and the first rotationinformation from the definite region, and, (ii) in subsequentcalculations after the first calculation, based on the first rotationinformation and the second rotation information when the rotation angleof the motor is in the definite region, or the absolute angle calculatedin the first calculation and the first rotation information when therotation angle of the motor is in the indefinite region.
 4. The rotationdetection device of claim 1, wherein the absolute angle calculator isfurther configured to calculate the absolute angle based on the firstrotation information and the second rotation information from thedefinite region, and use a previously calculated absolute angle value tocalculate the absolute angle when the rotation angle of the motor is inthe indefinite region.
 5. The rotation detection device of claim 1,wherein in response to a switch position of the rotation angle where therotation angle switches from 360 degrees to 0 degrees is included in theindefinite region, the control section is configured to control theoffset of the rotation angle to shift the switch position to thedefinite region.
 6. The rotation detection device of claim 1, whereinthe second rotation information is a count value based on count regionsthat divide the one rotation of the motor, the count value incrementingor decrementing in response to the rotation angle transitioning from onecount region to another count region based on a rotation direction ofthe motor.
 7. The rotation detection device of claim 6, wherein theabsolute angle calculator is further configured to divide each countregion into a plurality of sub-count regions, and shift the rotationangle to move the indefinite region into one of the plurality ofsub-count regions so that the indefinite region is included in the oneof the plurality of the sub-count regions, and wherein the other of theplurality of sub-count regions not including the indefinite region aredefinite regions.
 8. An electric power steering apparatus comprising: arotation detection device; and a motor for outputting a steering torquefor a steering operation of a vehicle, wherein the rotation detectiondevice includes: a sensor section configured to detect a rotation of themotor and to output first rotation information that includes a rotationangle of the motor within one rotation of the motor and second rotationinformation that includes a number of rotations of the motor; and acontrol section including: a signal acquirer configured to acquire thefirst rotation information and the second rotation information from thesensor section; and an absolute angle calculator configured to calculatean absolute angle indicative of a rotation amount from a referenceposition based on the first rotation information and the second rotationinformation; wherein the one rotation of the motor is divided into anindefinite region and a definite region, wherein the indefinite regionis a region in which a detection deviation of the second rotationinformation occurs, and wherein the definite region is a region in whichno detection deviation of the second rotation information occurs, andwherein the absolute angle calculator is further configured to calculatethe absolute angle using the second rotation information from thedefinite region.